NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, describing incidents dated January 16, 2016 to June 14, 2017.

Most-cited components

Power Train 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10995452 · Filed June 16, 2017
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE IS A PULL TO THE LEFT,,I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO HIS ATTENTION, ,, OHH ,,,DRIVE THE CAR FOR A WHILE ,,SOMETIMES THE TIRES MIGHT NEED TO WEAR A BIT AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE,,,I DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE, ,,ASKED AGAIN…
ODI #10837276 · Filed February 20, 2016
TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION BUCKING VIBRATION VERY HIGH RPM(4500-5500) JERKS NOT PICK UP ENGINE POWER PROPERLY .VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY

Read all 2 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA19-001: Electrical overstress
Closed September 19, 2024
- Recall 20V-024
Defect Petition DP22-005: Pedestrian alert sounds
Closed August 7, 2023
- Recall 22V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may not Deploy

NHTSA #20V024000 · Air Bags — Air Bag/Restraint Control Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 17, 2020 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 2,891,976 vehicles

Repair completion: 70.02% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign 20TB03 / 20TA03 · Owners notified March 16, 2020 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Front Drive Shaft may Separate

NHTSA #17V462000 · Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft · NHTSA notice

Reported July 20, 2017 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 671 vehicles

Repair completion: 83.76% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign H0M · Owners notified August 11, 2017 · Vehicles built January 20, 2016 – February 3, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The front drive shaft may separate.

Safety consequence

A front driveshaft separation would result in a loss of propulsion while driving, and if the driver exits the vehicle without applying the parking brake, the vehicle may roll. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the serial number of the vehicle's drive shaft, replacing any that are affected, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0M.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2016 Toyota Avalon HYBRID 4 DR FWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

11% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning (Optional) Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

2 investigations

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid.

Steering; Suspension

ODI #10995452

Incident: June 14, 2017 · Filed: June 16, 2017

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE IS A PULL TO THE LEFT,,I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO HIS ATTENTION, ,, OHH ,,,DRIVE THE CAR FOR A WHILE ,,SOMETIMES THE TIRES MIGHT NEED TO WEAR A BIT AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE,,,I DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE, ,,ASKED AGAIN ,,,,,,OHHHH ,, MAYBE YOU DRIVE THE CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THAT'S WHY YOU FEEL THE PULL TO THE LEFT ,,,,,I WENT TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIALIST AND ASKED FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHILE I HAD ONLY DRIVEN 170 MILES, ,,,THE ALIGNMENT WAS SLIGHTLY OFF, ,,,WAS CORRECTED BUT THE PULL WAS STILL THERE,,,,,,I REPEATED THE ALIGNMENT MORE THAN 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ALMOST 6 MONTHS AGO BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS, ,,,AFTER GETTING MORE TESTS AND ASKING ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, EVERYONE IS POINTING THE PROBLEM TO THE **** RACK AND PINION ****...I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND I ASKED FOR THE RACK AND PINION TO BE SPECIFICALLY TESTED BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE, ,,,,,NO RESPONSE, BUT A REFUSAL TO EVEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE, ,,,,,,ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, ,,,SUPPOSEDLY DID A CHECK UP NOT REALLY DIRECTLY RELATED,,,,AND ALSO I MENTIONED THAT THE SHOCKS MAKE A SQUICKING NOISE WHEN WET HE COMPLETELY IGNORED IT,,,,,AND ALSO A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AREA,,SOMETHING IS LOOSE BUT I CANNOT PINPOINT IT,,,,,THE OLD THING HE ASKED ME THE CHANGE ONE TIRE FOR $235,, $99 FOR BALANCING THE WHEELS, ,, $99 FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ,,WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT THIS DOESN'T ADDRESS OR SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE JUST SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDER, ,,*** THEN I ASKED HIM SINCE THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED THEN YOU ARE TO GOING TO ASK ME TO CHANGE THE AND PAY FOR A NEW CAR ****HIS RESPONSE ***MAYBE THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO!!**I LEFT NOT WANTING TO PAY $500 FOR NOT GETTING THE PROBLEM SOLVED. ..I'LL CHANGE THE RACK AND PINION AND PAY FROM MY POCKET BUT ISN'T RIGHT!!!

Power Train

ODI #10837276

Incident: January 16, 2016 · Filed: February 20, 2016

TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION BUCKING VIBRATION VERY HIGH RPM(4500-5500) JERKS NOT PICK UP ENGINE POWER PROPERLY .VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY

Other Toyota Avalon Hybrid model years

Check your 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Avalon Hybrid at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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